“My brother too—even Major who hasn’t shown interest in a girl since he got back from Afghanistan.” Sheriff James smiled. “We want you to stay here with us—we want to take care of you.”
“Take care of me?” I bit down on my lip and raised my eyebrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You would never want for anything. This entire town would belong to you. We would satisfy you in every way, show you how much we adore you, and treat you like the ravishing beauty you are.” Mayor Danvers looked to Sheriff James. “Right?”
“Exactly that.” Sheriff James nodded. “I know it might be a bit unconventional, but nothing in Granite Falls is conventional. We’ve got a house on the edge of town. The bank foreclosed on it years ago and nobody has put in a bid on it, but we’d like to make it your castle—your home in Granite Falls.”
“Um...” I felt a lump rising in my throat. “Are you wanting me to...”
“We want to take care of you.” Sheriff James reiterated with a firmer tone. “In return, you’ll take care of us.”
“I...” My words got tangled in my mouth. “I don’t think I’m the right girl for that.”
“You are.” I heard the door open and I turned around to see Axe entering.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Sheriff James started to stand.
“I asked him to come.” Mayor Danvers raised his hand.
“Samantha...” Axe walked towards me with a smile on his face and knelt down beside my chair. “I saw how special you were when I met you. I wanted you all to myself and I’ll admit it was a bit greedy considering how things are in Granite Falls, but what Mayor Danvers is proposing could be a wonderful arrangement for you. Imagine—you’ll never wake up wondering if you’re loved—never have to worry about the complexities of life. Everything will be provided for you and we will shower you with love and affection.”
“This seems really strange.” I looked at Axe and tilted my head. “Is this because I didn’t sleep with you? I’m a virgin, Axe. I can’t climb into bed with someone I just met...”
“Wow...” Sheriff James whistled through his teeth. “You really are special.”
“Something brought you to Granite Falls.” Axe took my hand rubbed my knuckles. “There is a reason you’re here. Let us show you how amazing life could be for you.”
“I can’t do this.” I pulled my hand away. “I need to go.”
“Here.” Mayor Danvers quickly wrote something on a piece of paper. “Come have dinner with us tonight. No strings attached—just a meal.”
“I don’t know.” I sighed heavily, but took the paper.
MY MIND WAS RATTLED with confusion when I left City Hall. I couldn’t believe they had actually asked me to remain in Granite Falls and partake in their strange arrangement. I felt like I needed a drink, but I didn’t want to go to The Water Barn so I just stopped at the gas station and got a cheap bottle of wine. I got back to my hotel room and locked the door, drinking from it as soon as my butt was on the bed.
My life hadn’t exactly gone as I had planned. I dreamed of growing up, finding a nice man, getting married, and raising a tribe of our babies. I was content with the idea of being a soccer mom. I met a man online while I was still in college and I thought he was the one—even if he was nothing but an image on the computer screen. I later found out he was just a guy I went to school with who was obsessed with me and he didn’t look anything like his profile picture. I didn’t believe anyone should be judged for their looks, but the deceit was too much for me to handle. I didn’t feel like I could trust him when I realized I had been lied to for over a year. After that, I had a series of bad dates—some of which could have been better if I wasn’t scared of losing my virginity to someone who would end up hurting me.
Drink. Forget this and just drink.
The wine kept flowing into my stomach, a bigger gulp going down each time I turned the bottle up, and before long it was empty. I couldn’t deny being a bit infatuated with the idea of Axe liking me. He was incredibly delicious, even if he did venture on the wrong side of the law. Mayor Danvers looked like he was a cardboard cutout of the perfect clean-cut man and if I met him first, I would have probably considered a date with him if he asked. Sheriff James was a bit older than the two of them, but age hadn’t done anything to distract from his appearance. I wasn’t even sure if the mayor was suggesting they would be the only ones to take care of me or if he was looping in others I had met. Steve, the sheriff’s brother, was hot—so was his friend Major, but both of them seemed a bit damaged. None of it made sense. I put the wine bottle on the table and saw the piece of paper with the address Mayor Danvers gave me.
Would it hurt to have dinner with them? Am I actually considering this crazy proposal?
I stood up and found my knees wobbly as I opened my suitcase. It was like someone else picking out my clothes and leading me towards the mirror to get dressed. In my head, I rationalized what I was doing. If I had dinner with them, I could show them I was nothing more than a timid virgin who couldn’t possibly fulfill their fantasies. I could put all of the craziness behind me and leave Granite Falls once my tire was fixed. Once I was dressed in the only decent thing I brought, a black dress with matching heels, I started towards the door. I felt a bit buzzed, but after clacking down the stairs in heels, it had started to wear off.
I walked outside and started to look around for my car—it was gone! Panic quickly rose up in my throat. Had it been stolen? Was this more of their game—to make sure I came to dinner? I turned to go back into the lobby when I saw a car pull up. The window rolled down and saw the face of Luther Madison peering out of it.
“Do you need a ride?” He flashed a smile and pushed open the passenger door.
“What? Where is my car?” I took a step back.
“Steve had it towed. It’ll be fixed tomorrow. Come to dinner, Samantha. If you don’t like what we have to say, you can leave Granite Falls tomorrow.” He gave me a hopeful stare.
“You’re in on this too?” I felt my mouth fall open in shock.
“Just give it a chance—one meal.” He smiled again.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Chapter 6: Mayor Joe Danvers
Being the youngest mayor of Granite Falls wasn’t easy. When my predecessor retired, I was left with mismanaged budgets and taxes that were rarely collected. Putting things back together had taken a toll on me. I just accepted that I would never find love, settle down, or have a family. It wasn’t like there were any candidates on the love ballot. Granite Falls was the kind of place where people just forgot about love, affection, and even their lust. I felt a change in the atmosphere when Samantha Grant rolled into town. It was more than Axe’s ego or Sheriff James’ desire to put him away for good. It transcended Steve’s thin line where he tried to balance being Axe’s friend and Jesse’s brother. It even seemed to calm the turmoil inside Major. Very few of them spent any time with Samantha, yet she was all they were talking about when we had gathered at City Hall to discuss what was on our mind. Blue’s arrival with interest on his breath stronger than the alcohol he normally put away by the gallon wasn’t nearly as surprising as watching our preacher, Luther Madison come through the door. It was clear that all seven of us only had one thought on our mind—Samantha. Our interactions were limited, but all of us craved her.
“Is she even coming?” Blue poured a shot and downed it which caused Axe to push his glass towards the bottle.
“She’ll come.” Axe tipped his glass back once Blue filled it.
“We’re all clear on what we’re offering here?” I walked to the middle of the room and looked around the group.
The collective nod combined with a few verbal confirmations echoed through the room. I knew it was an odd request but if the seven of them had been willing to consider it, then I hoped Samantha would as well. Luther agreed to go get her while the rest of us worked on making dinner. The old house at the edge of town was the perfect place for her t
o live and big enough for all of us to stay there. Very few people came out that way except for Sheriff James when he was checking in on the place. That would help quell the gossip some, although I wasn’t concerned about it as much as I should have been as an elected official. I felt like Samantha was worth that risk. When I heard Luther’s car in the driveway, I got everyone in position around the dinner table and waited for them to enter the house. Samantha had a stare of uncertainty on her face when she walked in and I understood it, but I hoped we could give her some semblance of peace about the situation. Luther led her to the chair at the opposite end of the table from me and took a seat. She looked around the room for a moment.
“Thank you for joining us.” I raised my glass to her and all of the others did as well. “To Samantha.”
“To Samantha.” The reply was almost unison, but it wasn’t perfect.
“Samantha, I’d like to start with having the group talk a little bit about their experience in Granite Falls, why they’re interested in this arrangement, and then allow you to ask any questions you may have.” I sipped my drink and put it down.
“Okay...” She seemed nervous, but agreed.
“I’ll start.” Luther exhaled sharply and then lifted his head. “This town means a lot to me. It’s where my wife and I made our memories before she was taken from me. She was a lot like you, Samantha. She wasn’t from Granite Falls, but she wandered into town on a cross-country trip when she was just a wayward young girl. I didn’t know what she was running from at the time, but she found peace in Granite Falls—with me. It’s been ten years since she passed and I honestly don’t think I could ever settle down with someone again. That part of me just seems gone. Maybe it’s the result of spending too many years wandering in sin while I drank my youth away, but when I met you—I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time...” He sighed deeply. “There is no way I could ever get married again, but I miss having someone to take care of. I miss having someone to love...”
“I’m sorry that happened to you.” Samantha seemed a bit torn about what he said, but she didn’t immediately run away after one of us gave her their story, so I figured it should continue. I motioned to Major.
“Afghanistan broke me.” Major picked up his beer and took a large gulp before sitting it down. “When I left Granite Falls to serve my country, I was proud to wear the uniform. I wasn’t prepared for the horrors of war. I was barely more than a kid when my boots hit that desert and I was forced to kill people to survive. It didn’t seem right—it felt more like slaughter than service. When my tour was done, I came back to Granite Falls. It’s the only place I feel peace. I had my fair share of women while I was away, but none of them really ignited a fire. It was just a few minutes of pleasure to get that sweet release. Once I returned from the desert, I couldn’t even feel that. I was fine living here without sex, but it is the companionship I’ve grown to miss... It wouldn’t be fair for me to drag a woman into my mess and leave her unfulfilled, but this arrangement would give me the companionship I need, and ensure you never feel like you want more. If I fail, there are six other guys to make sure you are well taken care of.”
“Thank you for your service.” Samantha reached for her glass and sipped her wine. “That’s really heavy.”
“Blue?” I turned to our local bartender.
“I don’t have a tragedy to lay out for you. Life has actually been pretty good for me. I don’t say that to be disrespectful to anyone here. All of my brothers and sisters left Granite Falls as soon as they could. I was the youngest kid and after my father passed, I felt like I needed to be there for my mother. Life has just become a cycle now. If the itch comes, I find what I need, I just don’t get it in Granite Falls. I won’t be the guy who cuddles you after I’m done or fixes you breakfast the next morning—but I’ll make sure you are always satisfied.” He chuckled. “That is about all I have to offer.”
“That isn’t true.” I shook my head. “He’s cocky, but he really is a nice guy. He fills a certain dynamic here, because we don’t want you to just be taken care of, we want you to be satisfied in every way.”
“Which I could do.” Axe folded his arms and looked around the room. “With or without everyone in the room. I’m just not really looking for love or a relationship. I don’t know what side of the law I’ll end up on when I wake up in the morning. It doesn’t seem fair to drag someone in that. You’re beautiful, Samantha. I’d love to know I could come home to you and never have to worry about you being left alone if I fuck up like I always do.”
“You will.” Sheriff James narrowed his eyes at Axe. “I’m practically salivating at the idea.”
“Come on, Jesse.” Steve let out a sigh. “Can’t we put this behind us? Axe has never hurt anyone. So what if he’s a bit wild—so what if he breaks a law selling something that is practically legal at this point. You weren’t always this much of an asshole. We both had to deal with Dad’s bullshit, but neither of us had to become him.”
“I didn’t hate Dad like you did.” Jesse tightened his jaw and the brotherly turmoil seemed evident in his eyes. “I was proud to pick up his badge—but that decision cost me the women I loved.”
“She left you just like Mom left him. The cycle can end here. Samantha is what we both need.” Steve tried to calm his brother and Jesse did seem to relax.
“I know she is.” Jesse looked to Samantha. “I get it, you’re probably wondering what the fuck is wrong with us to even consider this or offer it to you. Granite Falls needs a sheriff and I’m the one who chose to wear that uniform. My divorce was a bit of a mess. I don’t know that I could ever go through that again. I do need someone though, someone to make it all worth it at the end of the day when it feels like I’m just churning bullshit to make more bullshit.”
“He does.” Steve shook his head and sighed. “And so do I. We’ve both been trying to keep the peace here in Granite Falls. He keeps people on the straight and narrow—I try to keep good people like Axe away from his old-fashioned beliefs. I left town when I was old enough, even played college football for a while until I blew out my knee. I didn’t expect my older brother to turn into my father while I was gone. I feel like I need to stick around now just to keep him from going too far down that dark path. I truly believe you could be an answer to our prayers. You could bring a bit of peace, give the seven of us a purpose outside of what we deal with on a daily basis, and be cared for by all of us.”
“Wow...” Samantha seemed to be contemplating what she had heard.
“As for me...” I let out a sigh and picked up my drink. “I’m just too busy to find someone. You’ve noticed there aren’t many women around here. That is our curse, but it is also a gift. It gives us a chance to come together and put aside our differences to love one very special woman that could make us all happy.”
Chapter 7: Samantha
Hearing the stories of all the men in Granite Falls left me with a bit of confusion. They all seemed to be sweet guys with a number of flaws, but collectively they had managed to find focus with me. There was something about being there with them that warmed my heart more than I had ever really felt before. The world outside of Granite Falls was cruel. Finding a man amongst the liars and little boys trying to prove themselves was a bit exhausting. I had never thought about finding happiness with more than one man. I wasn’t sure how I could take care of seven guys who would all want a turn with me—especially since I was still a virgin. I felt like I should be honest with them. If they were considering the arrangement laid out and I was becoming more open to it, then they needed to know the truth as well. I wasn’t some perfect angel who rolled into town. I was a bit a mess myself.
“If someone would have told me I was going to come to Granite Falls and end up sitting at this table with the seven of you, I would have thought they were crazy. If they told me I would receive this kind of proposal, I would have thought I was dreaming. I feel like you are offering me something that could be amazing, but none of you really
know me...” I picked up my wine glass and took a drink.
“So tell us.” Mayor Danvers leaned forward.
“The first thing you need to know is that—I’m a virgin.” I watched a collective shock erupt around the room for a moment.
“Now the rest of you understand why I couldn’t get laid.” Axe laughed
“There’s no shame in innocence.” Luther smiled warmly and motioned for me to continue.
“I’ve been hurt before. I fell for someone that I thought I could trust and he lied to me. Since then I haven’t had the best luck with guys. I’m not sure I can be the girl you’re looking for.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m not sure I could be lucky enough to hit the jackpot with seven guys all at once when I can’t even find one decent guy.”
“Give us a chance.” Mayor Danvers’ tone was a little firmer than it had been before. “Give this town a chance. Let us show you that you can hit the jackpot.”
“I’m considering it...” It was all I could say without buying in or running for the door.
My consideration seemed to bring a bit of hope to the crowd. They started serving dinner and took turns making sure my drink was always topped off and I barely even lifted my fork to eat. It was like having an entire restaurant staff making sure I didn’t even have to raise a finger if I wanted something. I switched to water instead of wine because I wasn’t sure my decision should come with the influence of alcohol. It was hard to agree to such a strange arrangement, but as the evening continued, I found it harder to just say no. When dinner was over, we went to the living room and talked a little more, all of them listening to me and paying attention to my every word. Even when I rambled, they were intently focused on every word. I thought about my life and I questioned what direction I was truly headed. College was over and I had really only went because it was expected. I wasn’t chasing a dream or looking forward to slaving away just to keep food on the table. Life in Granite Falls would be a bit old-fashioned, but I made peace with my decision. It seemed like the most incredible offer I would ever get and being taken care of by seven extremely hot men wasn’t one I could turn down.
Seven Beasts_Reverse Harem Romance Page 19
